Posts Tagged “Family”

Seeking eating disorder care for your child can be an overwhelming decision. Their illness has already robbed them of so much, and you can’t help but wonder: Won’t treatment mean sacrificing even more? Maybe it can wait until a better time, you reason – when school is out, or social activities have settled down. For now, you just want your child to have some semblance of normalcy. 

It’s understandable to want to shield your child from interruptions to their life, especially when they’re already struggling. However, postponing eating disorder treatment often only leads to greater pain and disruption. In fact, every moment spent waiting for the “right time” is a moment an eating disorder can take deeper root.

Here are three reasons not to wait for the “perfect time” to get help for your child with an eating disorder.

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses, and yet, research shows that a majority of diagnosed, suffering adults will not seek treatment for their symptoms or concerns. We know that early treatment is critical when navigating the challenging landscape of an eating disorder. The longer one delays care, the greater the risks are for an extended duration of illness, heightened social isolation, increased body shape concerns, deeper internalization of eating disorder-related cognitive distortions, and worsened mental and physical outcomes, including a heightened mortality risk. 

The treatment of eating disorders often requires practitioners of all disciplines to engage in challenging conversations with their patients. Managing ambivalence, preferences, and resistance to recommendations for entering specialty eating disorder care are known concerns when working with adults affected by eating disorders. For adults with children, concerns about care often revolve around leaving behind family. 

As a parent, you want nothing but the best for your child. So when it comes to finding the right program to treat their eating disorder, it’s important to pick one fully equipped with the specialized knowledge and tools necessary to meet their unique needs.

Many eating disorder programs offered today began with treating adults and later added services for children and adolescents. However, The Emily Program’s centers in the Southeast were specifically built with children and adolescents in mind. Treatment at The Emily Program stands out in our ability to provide age-appropriate, best-practice care tailored to the unique medical, nutritional, and psychosocial needs of children and their families.

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a newer eating disorder diagnosis that is not as well-known as conditions like anorexia and bulimia. Once classified as Selective Eating Disorder (SED), ARFID most commonly affects children and young adolescents. Parents often find it challenging to support a child with an eating disorder, especially when the disorder is not widely known or discussed.

In this blog, we will provide an overview of ARFID, its risk factors, warning signs, and helpful ways to support your child affected by this type of eating disorder.

Perhaps you’ve noticed some differences in your adult child’s behavior. These changes are mostly related to their eating and exercise habits, but extend to their general demeanor. 

Maybe they push their food around on their plate without eating much of it. 

Maybe they can’t seem to stop talking about their new diet and exercise regimen.  

Maybe they deliberately avoid family gatherings that involve food. 

Approaching your child about these behaviors may feel daunting. You might worry about upsetting them or creating distance in your relationship. While you understand that they are now in charge of their own health decisions, you are deeply concerned about their well-being. The situation is undeniably distressing. Though you cannot force your adult child into seeking help, your support, empathy, and guidance can empower them to take that crucial next step. 

Read on to learn some helpful tips on initiating a conversation about eating disorder treatment with your adult child. 

If your child is under 18, the approach is different. Read our guide on how to help a child with an eating disorder.

“My patient received a recommendation for a higher level of eating disorder care, but their family wants to hold off until a ‘better time.’ How do I help them understand the risks of waiting?”

Eating disorder clinicians frequently face the challenge of resistance to care. This resistance stems from various factors, such as a fear of the unknown, difficulty acknowledging the severity of the illness, and ambivalence toward the recovery process. The prospect of interrupting life for treatment often only adds to the anxiety.

The reality is that there is rarely a “perfect time” to enter treatment. School and work conflicts, social obligations, seasonal celebrations, and vacation plans will always be there – and they will always conflict with the stressors and disruptions of treatment. 

Underlying the reasons for delaying care is often a layer of denial and feelings of overwhelm, leading an individual or their support system to question whether getting better is truly worth it, or whether it’s the best time to start on the journey to recovery. Regardless of the length of one’s list of obstacles, timely treatment is essential – even when it’s not convenient. 

Referring providers like you are essential to patients’ recovery, as you can kick-start the process. At The Emily Program, we work to maintain a level of collaboration with you throughout your patients’ treatment progression. We are in this together, involving you in the process so you become educated and empowered about these insidious illnesses, helping you ultimately do best by your patients.

If one of your patients or their family is questioning a recommended higher level of care, and you find yourself a little stuck as to what to do next, we encourage you to consider the following to advocate for your patient’s recovery.

When a loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, the impact is felt by everyone around them. Whether your partner or child is entering treatment, the experience can be overwhelming and confusing. The path to recovery is often filled with ups and downs, and knowing how to offer support can be challenging. 

This guide aims to provide you with insights, strategies, and resources to help you navigate this difficult time, whether you’re a partner trying to understand your loved one’s journey or a parent seeking to support your child’s recovery. We’ll get into the unique challenges and considerations for both roles, offering practical advice on how to create a supportive environment, communicate effectively, and handle the complexities of treatment together.

You don’t know what to do. You’ve never had to worry about your twelve-year-old son before. His school report cards consistently reflect his conscientiousness, situating him comfortably at the top of his classes. He demonstrates the same drive outside the classroom, where he’s established himself as a dependable scorer for the school’s soccer team.

But something’s been off lately, giving you a gnawing feeling in your gut. Your son seems to be regressing to the picky eating of his childhood. His palette is increasingly limited these days, and he alleges digestive problems when asked to gather with the family for dinner. He used to have a tight-knit group of friends, but recently has been declining birthday party invitations and isolating himself. His soccer coach has called you and suggested your son take a leave from the team—he fainted during this evening’s practice.

You know you need to act, but you’re facing pushback from your son. He meets your concerns with heightened defensiveness, firmly denying that anything is wrong. He’s doubling down on his already rigid study schedule, convinced that any disruptions will derail his high-achieving track. You understand that school can wait, but you’re struggling to get your son on board with taking the time for treatment. Is it possible his reaction and this resistance are related to his unusual food behaviors? You reason it would be easier for him to continue his top performance if he wasn’t battling these food issues, but you can’t be sure. You need guidance from those who have walked this path before—that’s where we come in.